Small Outboard reverse performance

[steam_mill]

I have a Mercury 7.5 hp of late seventies vintage.<br /><br />Reverse is not very effective. The prop spins, seems to ventilate a whole lot. Increasing throttle above idle is useless.<br /><br />Motor is on a 12' aluminum boat. Of course reverse performance with more people aboard, is worse.<br /><br />Motor runs fine in forward.<br /><br />I used to have an Evinrude 7.5 1954 on this boat and reverse performance was not any better.<br /><br />Is reverse performance on small outboards just bad?<br /><br />The revers on my Mercury 90 is fine.<br /><br />Tx.<br /><br />Joe

 

[JB]

Re: Small Outboard reverse performance

If small outboards developed too much thrust in reverse the leg would come out of the water.<br /><br />Most small engine props are very inefficient in reverse and most throttles are blocked from WOT in reverse.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Small Outboard reverse performance

Perhaps your 12' boat doesn't like to go in reverse. <br /><br />My 4hp is bad in R too.<br />But my old 7.5 Merc was pretty peppy in R.

 

[timmathis]

Re: Small Outboard reverse performance

Normal for a small motor. You can take what JB tells you to the bank.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Small Outboard reverse performance

If your engine has through hub exhaust it is much less powerful in reverse as it is going through it's own exhaust.

 

[Wimperdink]

Re: Small Outboard reverse performance

I have a 4 horse that works great in reverse.... just turn it backwards and open er up.